Obituary of Delphia M. Burr

Delphia Maxine (Hester) was born July 11, 1921, the oldest of four daughters born to Elmer Charles “Boon” and Etta Katharine (Shrum) Hester. She was born in the home of her paternal grandparents, Eli and Carrie Belle (Strobridge) Hester in Benkelman, Nebraska. She passed away September 26th, 2016 at the Kit Carson Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Co. Her early school years were spent attending rural schools (Hester & Parks) until graduating 8th grade in May of 1935, just 2 weeks before the Great Republican River flood that nearly destroyed the town on Parks, NE. Because of distance from a high school, she and her sister Betty spent their next 4 years in Benkelman attending school. At times they lived with relatives or in a basement apartment where Billye also came to live with them for school. Delphia graduated from Benkelman High School in 1939 and continued her education by correspondence courses from the University of Nebraska until she obtained her teacher’s certificate. On the night she graduated from high school she met Marvin Burr, a young man from Bird City, KS. Perhaps we should say it was “love at first sight” because they were married on January 4, 1943 in St. Francis, KS by the Methodist minister while Marvin was home on furlough from the army during World War II. A year later he would be sent to Europe for 2 years. While Marvin was gone, Delphia taught school at the Rolwitz Country School. At the end of the war when Marvin returned and had received his discharge from the army, the couple bought their first land in Colorado…..actually five days after he returned home! They started farming the Colorado land in the spring of 1946. They had also purchased a home in Bird City, KS and spent the next 5 years farming in the summer and with Marvin wiring rural homes in Bird City during the winter months because the REA was just coming through. During this time their 3 children were all born in Benkelman, NE: Larry Marvin in 1947; Kelly Owen in 1950 and Randy Gene in 1951. In the spring of 1951 the young family moved to Colorado permanently and always considered “home” to be their farm 17 miles north of Seibert. Shortly after their move, their youngest son Randy died from an acute respiratory infection. In 1961 the family was once again hit with tragedy when Larry Marvin was involved in a water-skiing accident at Bonny Dam and died from his injuries. Over the years, their farm grew in size and the ultimately enjoyed 62 years of married life before Marvin passed away in 2004. As a child, Delphia attended the Rolwitz Country Church, however in 1951 she was baptized into the Lord’s church at the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ north of Vona, Co. She was a member of the Flagler Church of Christ and taught Sunday school for many, many years. The church was a vital part of her life and her vast knowledge of the Bible and its history inspired many. Delphia was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Bird City, KS and a life member of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Seibert, CO. She was a past Noble Grand of the Rebecca Lodge and was extremely proud of her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution in McCook, NE. An avid crafter, Delphia always had some type of project underway. Of her crafts, she became quite well known for her beautiful candles and for the elaborate beaded Christmas stockings which she sold at craft fairs. Her other passion was genealogy. She and her sister Billye traveled across the country to track down records of their ancestry. As if this didn’t keep her busy enough, she found time to play bridge twice a month as well as go to hobby club and The Shiloh Community Club monthly. In September of 2010, Delphia surprised her family with the decision to move to The Legacy, an assisted living facility in Burlington, CO. One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren and all their activities. They spent hours with her in her “farm” home and then at her Legacy home. She also enjoyed being “Grandma Great” to the next generation and never tired of their playing while visiting her. She often said she might be the only 91+ year old babysitter at the Legacy! Delphia is preceded in death by her parents Elmer Charles Hester and Etta Katherine Hester; sisters Betty Jean Denny and Patricia Ann Denny; brother-in-law Ike Denny; brother-in-law’s Willis Burr and John Rooney; sister-in-law Zella “Elaine” Rooney; grandson Derek Boon Burr; husband Marvin and sons Larry and Randy. She is survived by her son Kelly and wife Sheena of Seibert, CO; granddaughter Lindsey Richards and husband Chad of Idalia, CO; granddaughter Kylie Chamberlain and husband Tyler of Idalia, CO; great-grandchildren Aubrey, Cade and Addison Richards and Hayley and Joie Chamberlain; sister Billye Johnson of Broken Bow, NE; sister-in-law Bonnie Burr, Bird City, KS. and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will be remembered for her wit and her fantastic memory even at the age of 95. She was a lady who was very direct. You knew exactly where you stood with her. Above all else, she will be remembered with much love by her family.